At Orthopaedics of Atlanta and Aesthetic Institute in Atlanta, Georgia, Dr. Joseph Absi and his team skillfully perform trauma surgery of all types for orthopaedic injuries, including setting fractures.
Dr. Absi looks at multiple factors to inform his approach to your case. He will consider where the break is, whether it is a simple or compound fracture, your overall health, medical conditions, age, activity level, and more. This will help him to give you the best care possible for restored mobility. Once the path of fracture treatment is decided on, he will discuss it with you before the treatment begins.
Stabilizing and immobilizing the break is step one. This can prevent the bone from shifting more, which could cause additional issues. Dr. Absi may use a splint, brace, or sling, or you may need a plaster or fiberglass cast to immobilize the bone completely. If necessary, Dr. Absi will gently realign the bone to ensure the ends line up properly for optimal healing.
Broken bones that have shifted dramatically may need more specific intervention to bring the pieces into better alignment. Dr. Absi can complete fracture reduction surgically or nonsurgically. A local anesthetic is commonly used for the first option and general anesthesia for the second. A cast will keep the bones steady and still while you heal.
The image of people in traction is familiar from the last half-century of television, with elaborate pulley systems holding arms and legs up in the air. Traction is a less common form of fracture treatment these days, but it may be used in some situations to stretch tendons and muscles gently. The traction keeps just enough tension to encourage broken bones to stay in proper alignment.
Badly shattered bones may need a little extra help. Dr. Absi can place support structures, such as pins, screws, or metal plates into your body to help position the bone or bones. These may be an entirely closed procedure (surgery known as internal fixation) or may involve pins and wires that stay outside the body after surgery (external fixation.)
Dr. Abis provides an alternative to having a fracture treated in a crowded emergency room. If there is no immediate health danger, you can call our office and arrange to be seen by Dr. Absi for fast, effective orthopaedic care.
If you have a fracture, learn about your treatment options by calling our office at 404-334-2929 or booking an appointment online today.
